GB2408439A - Device for Protection Against Slugs - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for protection against slugs, comprising a hollow waterproof tube 1 having a plurality of holes 2 along its longest side, the tube containing slug pellets 3 or other chemicals poisonous to slugs. The holes may be covered by a flap or a membrane. The tube may be formed in sections or in bendable lengths (4, fig.2) to surround any area to be protected. The tube may be secured in place with sticks, bands or clips (5, fig.5), either placed within or attached and connected to lugs attached to the tube.

Description

240843 9

SAFE SLUG CONTROL

This invention relates to a safer and cleaner way of protecting plants from slugs Slug pellets contain poisonous chemicals that are spread on the ground and are an effective means of protecting garden plants However, these chemicals are a danger, as they are left exposed on the ground and could pose a threat to children, pets and other wildlife that also have access to that area.

This invention encloses the poison in a weatherproof tube whilst allowing the slugs easy access to consume it via small holes at ground level The device is secured around the area to be protected This invention also avoids soil contamination by the chemicals leaching into the area that is protected and into the produce that is consumed.

This device also facilitates the easy and hygienic disposal of the dead slugs, whilst discouraging insects that would alight on the remains and then walk onto foodstuffs that are growing. The tubes can be replaced at regular intervals when the poison has been used up According to the present invention the necessary poisons are enclosed in sealed sections of the tube which can be of any shape or size, as long as the slugs have easy access to it The poison can be incorporated into the tube during its manufacture, or it can be used with ordinary slug pellets and other chemicals, that give protection against pests, this poison can be added to the tube, or incorporated into the tube, during the manufacturing process Alternatively, the tubes can be filled with the poisons or pellets at a later date, manually, by the gardener 'I he shape of the tube is easily modified and the tubes can be made in individual sections, or with bendable corners, or alternatively produced as flexible 'bendable' tubes ( these could be ribbed or corrugated) of any length that can be secured to enclose the area to be protected. The tubes are secured in position with or without 'lugs' or connections on the tube, to keep the tubes in place and close to the surface of the soil This close proximity to the soil can be facilitated by means of a clip, or a band, or a strip, that connects the tube with the ground, so that it cannot be knocked aside or blown by the wind Alternatively, any object of suitable weight will be sufficient to keep the device in place Slugs are attracted to the chemicals and will enter the tube via the small apertures, that could have 'flaps' or membranes over them. These are arranged at intervals in the side of the tube These small holes are placed to face outwards; the slugs, being attracted to the poison, consume the poison, and stay in the cover that the tube affords them When the chemicals are used up and the protection needs renewing, the old tubes and the bodies inside, are easily removed and a new tube put in place A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 shows the tube, of any length, with the holes along the side and the poisonous chemicals inside Figure 2 shows the bendable tubes with the holes at intervals and the chemicals inside. This is arranged in position on the ground, around the plants to be protected from slugs Figure 3 shows how sections of tube can be used to enclose the area of ground and the plants to be protected Figure 4 shows how the device can be used as a flexible, circular, or elliptical, border, for protection from slugs, that also encloses the plants to be protected Figure 5 illustrates how 'lugs' or 'clips' can be used to hold the device secure This can be made of metals, wire, plastic, or wooden sticks, that form a connection to the tube and are used to secure the tubes in position Figure 6 illustrates how the tube can be secured in position without these lugs' by using wires or sticks firmly pushed into the ground either side of the tube Alternatively, the device can be secured by a suitably heavy weight Referring to the drawing Figure I the device is composed of a hollow, waterproof tube I sealed at external ends, and small holes, cut out or perforated, that could be covered with a 'flap' or membrane, on the outer side 2, that is, facing away from plants The tube can be of any diameter but a measurement of three inches, would be spacious enough for both slugs and poison, and less visually intrusive than larger tubes They can also be coloured to blend in with the background. These tubes are placed around the area to be protected and the poisonous chemicals are enclosed within the tube 3 This could be slug pellets, or chemicals enclosed/incorporated during manufacture.

The tubes can be made with flexible corners Figure 2, or in separate sections Figure 3, both can be used in variable lengths, according to the size of the area to be protected Alternatively, the enclosure could be circular or elliptical, Figure 4, the important point is that the tube comes between any approaching slugs, and the vulnerable plants The tubes are held in place, touching the ground and with the lip of the hole close to the ground, around the area of soil to be protected The tubes are held in place, and in close proximity to the ground, by the means of clips or bands, or lengths of stick, in metal, plastic, wire, or wood 5 and 7 These are fixed alongside, over, and/or along the top, side or underside of the tube. Alternatively, the same lengths of stick, clip or wires, can be held in position through 'lugs' or clips 6 These can be built into the device for this purpose However, a suitably heavy weight 8 placed on top of the tube, will hold it in position equally well.

Claims (4)

CLAIM S

1 A hollow, waterproof tube with small holes along the side, that could be covered by a 'flap' or membrane, that contains slug pellets or other poisonous chemicals for the purpose of protecting plants from slugs

2 A hollow, waterproof tube with small holes along the side that could be covered by a 'flap' or membrane as in claim 1, that can be of any shape, in sections or bendable lengths, to surround the area to be protected.

3 A hollow, waterproof tube, with small holes along the side that could be covered with a 'flap' or membrane, either in sections or made to be bendable as in claim I and 2, that can be secured in place by means of sticks, bands or clips, either placed within, or attached and connecting to lugs incorporated in the design, or a suitably weighted object on top of the tube, to keep the device in place and in close contact with the ground 4 A hollow, waterproof tube with small holes at intervals along the side that could be covered by 'leaps' or a membrane, as in claim 1, 2, and 3 that affords protection from slug poison in the house, or garden, and the easy disposal of chemical residues and slug remains A hollow, waterproof tube with small holes at intervals along the side that could be covered by 'flaps' or a membrane, and that is produced in sections, or in bendable lengths, to enclose slug pellets, poisons, and any pest control chemicals to protect plants from slugs in any area that needs this safeguard, as described herein with reference to Figures I - 6 of the accompanying drawing Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1 A hollow, waterproof tube with a plurality of holes of a size suitable for slugs to pass through positioned along the longest side of the tube, the holes being covered by a flap or membrane, the tube containing slug pellets or other poisonous chemicals for the purpose of protecting plarits from slugs.

2 A hollow, waterproof tube as claimed in claim 1 where the tube is made of a flexible material or comprises interconnecting sections which allow the tube to surround any area to be protected 3 A hollow, waterproof tube as claimed in claims 1 or 2 that can be secured in place bar means of sticks, bands or clips, either placed within, or attached and connecting to lugs Incorporated in the tube, or by placing a weighted object on top of the tube.

4 A hollow, waterproof tube with a plurality of holes of a size suitable for slugs to pass through positioned along the longest side of We tube arid covered by 'flaps' or a membrane, to enclose slug pellets, poisons, and any pest control chemicals to protect plants from slugs in any area that needs this safeguard, as described herein Ah reference to Figures 16 of the accompanying drawing